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Medical Home Initiative Grant Opportunity - Due August 13, 2010Meaningful Use Workshop Presentations - June 2010Medical Home Lessons Learned - March 2010Iowa Collaborative Safety Net Provider NetworkAlmost 700,000 Iowans under age 65, approximately 27% of the total population, do not have health insurance (Families USA, March 2009). Thousands more have insurance that only covers catastrophic illnesses and accidents. For these individuals and families, there are limited options available for affordable health care.Many of these Iowans turn to Iowa’s safety net providers for affordable primary and preventive health care. Through a unique partnership created in 2005 by the Iowa Legislature, the Iowa Collaborative Safety Net Provider Network (Network), Iowa’s health care safety net providers have united to identify common unmet needs that can be addressed cooperatively. Access to pharmaceuticals, specialty care referrals, and health professionals recruitment were identified as the first three areas for collaboration and medical home was most recently added as a priority issue area.In the beginning, the Network was comprised of Community Health Centers, Free Clinics, and Rural Health Clinics, but has grown tremendously in the past few years to include Family Planning Agencies, Local Boards of Health, and Maternal/Child Health Centers. Because the demand for these providers’ services greatly outweighs their resources, there is an ongoing need to coordinate efforts. The recession and dramatic increases in unemployment have amplified the challenges these clinics face of remaining fiscally solvent while providing care for an increasing uninsured population.In addition to the safety net clinics identified above, many other organizations are key partners in the Network’s efforts. Following is a list of Network member organizations. The Iowa/Nebraska Primary Care Association coordinates and manages the Network.
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